Duke has hired a new offensive line coach
Duke football coach David Cutcliffe zeroed in on a new offensive line coach quickly and the deal became official on Tuesday.
Greg Frey is joining the Blue Devils staff, the school announced.
The News & Observer reported last Wednesday that Frey was Cutcliffe’s top target.
Duke had an opening at that position after Jim Bridge, the offensive line coach the last two years, resigned Jan. 8. Memphis announced his hiring there three days later.
“We’re thrilled to have coach Frey join our staff,” Cutcliffe said in a statement released by Duke. “It isn’t often you have the opportunity to add an individual who, within the landscape of college football, played at the highest level, has coached at the highest level and comes with 20-plus years of experience on the sideline. Coach Frey’s coaching and mentoring abilities are inspiring, and he will have an immediate and positive impact on the young men in our program. We look forward to welcoming Greg, his wife Andrea and children into our football family.”
Frey comes to Duke after coaching offensive linemen at South Florida, West Virginia, Indiana, Michigan and Florida State. He has coached offensive linemen for 12 seasons at Power 5 schools, with 20 of his players going on to NFL careers
He spent last season at Florida as a quality control analyst for offense on Dan Mullen’s staff.
“As you go through life and build your family and your career, who you surround yourself with becomes very important,” Frey said in a statement released by Duke. “What attracted me so much to Duke University was the faith, the family and the football, as well as the way coach Cutcliffe runs his program. As we move forward, we want to be at the forefront of building the culture and championship level play that Duke expects. I’m excited to get started and can’t wait to go.”
Duke went 5-7 last season, missing a bowl game for just the second time in the last eight seasons.
The Blue Devils allowed 28 sacks . Only four other ACC schools allowed fewer, but that statistic only tells part of the story of the line’s performance.
Pro Football Focus College’s analysis of all 130 Football Bowl Subdivision offensive lines rated Duke No. 111.
In passing situations, the Blue Devils allowed pressure just 2.29 seconds after the snap. That’s second-worst in the country.
Duke returns four starting offensive linemen, including two tackles — Casey Holman and Jacob Monk — who started as freshmen last season. Center Jack Wohlabaugh and guard Rakavius Chambers return for their senior seasons.
